Vegetable and fruit dispenser



F. PHILIPPS.

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT DISPENSER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, I921.

1,388,198. A Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1921- F. PHILIPPS.

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT DISPENSER.

1,388,198. Patented Aug. 23, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 12 '15 10 1 F 14 I3ZZ 24 zz 25 E 2a 44 3'9 w I z I Fran/r Pizza ops.

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iruitand vegetables, but which may also be employed in stores of thecharacter where UNITED-"STATES" FRANK PHI ZLIPPS, HAMMOND, INDIANA.

VEGETABLE Ann morr nisrnnsnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

" Application filed March 26, 1921. Serial No. 455,809.

To all whom it may concern: 1 Be it known that FRANK PHILIPPS, a muzenof the United States, residing at Ham-' mond, in the county of Lake andState of Indiana, has invented certain new and useful Improvements inVegetable and Fruit'Dispensers, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to store fur-. niture, and particularl toa device .by use ofwhich vegetables, fi'uit and like goods may bequickly and easily dispensed to cus- .tomers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is not only adapted to use by the salesman for quicklymeasuring out desired quantities of the customers wait on themselves, asthe device provides a read means for supporting a container, means orpermitting the fruit or vegetables to be delivered to the container, andmeans for determining the weight or quantity of the goods deposited inthe container. 4

- Another object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is of relatively compact and strong construction so thatit is capable of withstanding considerable wear and hard usage, and adevice which may be easily kept in a sanitary condition and to whichaccess may be readily had to the interior thereof for filling the sameand for withdrawing its contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved frame orbody construction adapted to support and house in or protect variousoperating elements, and to support such elements in convenient positionof access to the salesman or other party dispensing the goods, and whichmaintains the parts in close proximity to each other so that they may bequickly and easily operaltedwithout the exercise. of undue care or sill.

- A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a device whichmay be operated quickly and easily so as to save considerable time inthe handling and weighing of fruit and vegetables, and a device whichembodies various novel features which combined, produce a practical andeconomical dispenser both as to manufacture and use.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill in part be described in and in partunderstood from the followingdetailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same beingillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a vegetable and fruit dispenser constructed according to Ithe present invention, the device being closed and a container shown asresting on the platform;

Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing the dis penser open and illustratingthe parts of the a device when the latform is depressed or weighted downwith the required quantity of the goods; a

Fig, 3 is a side elevation of the device in the position of Fig. 1,parts of the same being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantiall centrallythrough the device in the position of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFig. 3 and looking downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrows;i

Fig. 6 is a vertical section the structure illustrated in Fig. 5 on theline 6-6 thereof, and in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a detail plan. view of the underside of the scale platform.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated'by similarnumerals of reference throughout the several views, the body part orframe of the device comprises. a pair of forward uprights or standards10 and -11, connected together at their upper ends by a front crosspiece 12 and reinforced taken through The space between the cross pieces12 and i 13, and the standards 10 and 11 is preferabl closed inby atransparent panel 14, althoug any other suitable closure may be emloyed. The front portion of the frame thus ormed, constitutes a supportfor a pair of sides. Each side is (onstructed of a top rail 15 and abottom rail 16, the rails supporting a plurality of slats 17 or thelike, which extend between the rails and form the body of the side, andpermit ins ection of the contents of the body through t e side.

The top rail 15 is joined to the front section at its upper end whilethe bottom rail 16 is joined to front section at a point below the crosspiece 13. The rear end of the platform comprises a pair of standards,which are secured to the rear ends of the top and bottom rails 15 and16, and which are interbraced by a top brace 19 and a lower orintermediate brace 20. The brace 19 is connected to the tops of thestandards 18, while the brace 20 preferably lies in the horizontal planeof the side rails 16, and below the forward cross brace 13. The rearwall or portion of the structure may also be closed in b slats or bars21, forming a grating for holc ing the contents in the body and at thesame time permitting the inspection of the contents from outside thebody.

The parts, thus described, may of course be made of any suitablematerial, but at present, they are constructed of wood as the latter isfound to be the most practical and economical. A sheet metal bottom 22is provided. The rear end of the bottom 22 is secured by a clampingstrip 23 upon the upper face or edge of the rear cross brace 20. Thelateral marginal edges of the bottom 22 are secured by lateralextensions of the clamping strip 23 to the upper edges or faces of theside rails 16, so as to completely inclose I the lower end of the body.

The intermediate portion of the sheet metal body 22 is depressed orarched downwardly, and slopes uniformly from the rear cross brace 20 tothe forward edge of the bottom 22, which bottom projects forwardlybeneath the front cross brace 13 to provide a trough or feeding mouth ofa predetermined size downwardly through which the fruit and vegetablesmay roll when released. The forward lower corner of the cross piece 13is preferably beveled or cut away to provide an inwardly and downwardlysloping face 24, which leads to the troughed bottom 22, to permitviewing of the contents of the trough and also easy access of the handfor picking out one or more of the articles to be dispensed, should itbe found necessary to add an additional article for completing theweight. This inclined face 2 L also provides a hopper or opening throughwhich articles may be returned to the spout or bottom 22,

should there be overflow incidentto the failure of shutting off the flowof the articles from the spout.

A gate 25 is mounted on the body frame at the forward end of the bottomor spout and is adapted to control the iiow of the articles or materialfrom the spout. Th is gate 25 comprises a flat strip or board pivbted at26 against the forward side offthe upright 10 at one side of the bottom22 and the strip 25 is adapted to extend in av generalhorizo ntaldirection across the front of the body, and is adapted to swing upon itspivot 26 within the limits of a strap or guard 27 which issecured to theopposite front standard or upright 11. The guard 27 is preferablyof-substantially loop shape with its ends screwed or otherwise securedagainst the outer face of the upright 11, and the gate or strip 25 is ofsufficient length to project from the strap 27 and beyond the outer edgeof the upright 11 to form a handle 28 by means of which the gate 25 mayswing down into the low fgr end of the strap 27, for closing the gate.

From Fig. 4t it will be noted that the top of the gate 25 terminates inspaced relation from and also below the plane of the upper portion ofthe cross brace 13, so that ample space is provided between the top ofthe gate 25 and the inclined face 2st to receive the hand forwithdrawing or replacing articles.

as is found necessary.

To permit the quick and easy opening of the gate 25, particularly whenboth hands are occupied in the carrying of bundles or holding areceptacle in proper position for receiving the articles, a pedal orfoot lever 29 is provided and is located upon the standard 11 at theside thereof so that the person dispensing the goods may stand at thefront of the device and place the right foot on the pedal 29, depress itand thus open the gate 25.

This pedal 29 is provided with a substantially T-shaped head or shoe 30upon its inner end, and the shoe or head is confined in a vertical guide31 which is preferably in the form of a sheet metal strip overturned atits longitudinal edges, and with such edges closely spaced apart to forman undercut T-slot in which the shoe fits with the shank thereofprojecting outwardly for supporting the pedal 29.

The pedal is connected by a flexible cord 32 with the outer or swingingend of the gate 25. The guide rail 31 is preferably secured against theouter face of a strip 33 secured upon the inner side of the front post11, in position to permit the pedal 29 to project laterally beyond thepost 11 a distance sufficient to receive the foot of the operator. Theflexible cord 32 extends upwardly from the pedal 29 and through anopening 34 which is formed through the adjacent side rail 16 and thenceupwardly and over a pair of pulleys 85 carried in a suitable block 36seated in the upper part of the standard 11. The flexible cord 32 istrained over these pulleys 35jfind carried downwardly at theforward'side of the standard 11 and connected at its end by a strap 37to the gate 25 at the inner side of the strap or guard 27.

Thusfdepression of the pedal 29 swings the gate 25 into open position.For the purpose of holding the gate in open position wherg'desired, thestandard 11 is provided at ritsrouter side with a spring-retainer 38,

tainer 38 are closely spaced apa to yieldingly receive therehetweon the11:. Mile 28 of the gatfas the a-er is swung into its raised positionThe r .ainer 38 is of sullicient strength to support the gate in raisedposition and the same time permits the r easing oi; the gate when slightp1 brought to bear upon the handle 28 in a diroction to close the gate.

Housed within the forward part of the body or frame of the device asupporting plat-form 39. This platform extends be tween the lower endportions of the stand-- ards and 11 and beneath the forward end. of thebottom or spout 22 so that a basket, such as shown in dotted lines at 40in Fig. 1, may be placed upon the platform and when there positioned, isin proper p the articles or material as Jo same flow from the spout orbottom Theplatform 39 is sug'ipor d a n the lever mechanism 41 of ascale which is housed in a base ea so cured by straps as or the like tothe inner sidesof the uprights .10 and 11 for not only reinforcing theuprights, but also for hour .ing and protecting the scalemechanism.

The lever 41 is connected by a link 44- to a scale beam 45? of approvedconstruction, which is pivoted. at so to the front side of the top crossbrace 12 and in position over the platform 39. The scale beam carriesthe usual adjustable weight 4? and -other purtenances for determiningthe diii'erent weights it is desired to place upon the platform 39, forsupporting a yoke bracket 48 which embraces the outer end of the scalebeam 4&5 for igniting the rise and fall oithe same.

It will he noted that the rams or body part of the dispenser is of suchC"El1:l0l2i0ll that it houses and. supports the various parts oi? thedispensingand weighing apparatus,

so that such parts not only afford a support and a protection, but areso positioned that they may be used for interbracing and reinforcing theframe of the device.

Another feature of the device as thus constructed, is that while thecontents mayiin. bulk be (sickly and easily delivered the basket orother container used 'it admits of the return or of the individualpicking out of one or more of the articles according to whether anexcess amount has been. delivered or whether the amount falls itly shortof the weight desired.

In use, the person dispensing the goods places cont iner sill on theplatform 39. The weight a? is then adjusted on the scale beam to theindication opposite the desired weight. This having been done, theperson then places the :5 cos the latter action draws into its lheretainer Y The cross brace 12 is also utilized c holds it in such openposition so that the operator may release the footn As soon as thequantity-of goods has flowed from the spout 2 2 into the container 40 toan amount sulficient to swing the scale beam 45, the operator thenquickly presses down upon the handle 28 ot the to close the latter.

Should the not be closed at the proper time and too much material or tooman articles were delivered to the container 40, the,

person may easily pick out a few of the ar ticles from the container tolighten the weight therein and toss such articles back into the spout orbottom 22 through the passage 24.

On the other hand it the quantity in the container so does not come upto the desired weight, the oper l -*assage'2s and lift out one or moreelse, as is foundnecessary to make has adapted for practical usage andmay or may easily insert the,

h deficiency in the weight. The devicealso he used for determining theexact.

weights well as handling the bulks ina quick and satisfactory manner.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may hemade in the details of construction and design-of the above specificallydescribed embodiment without dep the spirit of the inventiimti suchchanges and modifications be ing restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

lVhat is claimec is: 1. In a dispensing cc, hollow body adapted toreceive articles to hedispensed and provided with a forwardly inclinedbottom forming cho i a closing the outer end oithe chute pedal mountedupon the side of the body and connected to the gate for swine the sameinto openpositionupon de ression of the pedal, and a scaleplatform'inounted within the forward end of the bodyportion beneath saidgate for supporting a container in position to receive articles from thespout.-

2. Inan article dispenser, a hollow portion. having an outlet spout atits for ward end sate closm the forward end of t z, v t: 1 the scout anodal mounted moon the side .i 3 l .L

of the body portion and connected to said gate and adapted. to swing thelatter into open position when the pedal'is depressed, means foryieldingly holding the. gate in open position, said gate being adaptedto be manually released upon delivery of the required amount of materialfrom the spout, and a scale platform housed within and sup ported by theforward end of said body por tion for supporting a container beneaththespout.

inch

. In article dispenser, a hollow-body! 1 we material-1n built; n dbottom;

forward end of the body portion at one side thereof and extending acrossthe forward end of said spout for closing the same, a

pedal mounted upon said body portion at 5 the other side thereof, aconnection between said pedal and said ate for swingin the latter intoopen position when the pe a1 is depressed, and a scale platform mountedwithin the lower end of said body portion beneath the gate forsupporting a container in proper position to receive articles from the 5out.

4. n an article dispenser, a body portion comprising front and rearpairs of uprights, top and intermediate braces arranged between saidpairs of uprights for interbracing the same, top'and bottom side railsjoining said uprights to provide a hollow body adapted to receivearticles to be dispensed, an inclined bottom carried between the'uprights and said rails and inclined forwardly and downwardly to form aspout adapted to deliver material beneath an intermediate .brace at thefront of the body, a gate pivoted at one end to one of the forwarduprights and the gate extending across the forward end of said bottom toclose the spout, a vertically slidable pedal mounted upon the oppositeforward upright and having connection with the free end of said gate forswinging the latter upwardly when the pedal is depressed, and a wei hingscale mounted between and supporte from said forward uprights, wherebysaid scale is protected betweenthe uprights and whereby the platform ofthe scale may be supported in position to receive a container forarticles delivered from the spout.

5. In an article dispenser, a hollow body 40 portion adapted to receivearticles in bulk and having a forwardly inclined delivery spout at itsforward end, a cross brace in the forward end of said body portionspaced above the bottom of the spout and having, a forwardly anddownwardly inolinedfront face providing a passage leading down into thespout, a gate mounted upon the forward end of the body portion andextending across the forward end of the spout in spaced relation to saidcross brace to permit insertion and removal of articles through saidspace into and from the spout, means for swinging the gate into open andclosed positions, and a scale platform mounted in the forward end ofsaid body portion beneath said gate. 6. In a dispensing device forarticles, a hollow body portion adapted to receive articles in bulk, andprovided with a forwardly and downwardly inclined delivery spout, thefront wall of said body portion having a lower cross brace spaced abovesaid spout to permit a passage beneath the cross brace through which thearticles are adapted to flow in a restricted stream, a gate pivotizllymounted upon the forward end of the body portion and adapted to extendacross the forward end of said spout to check the flow of articlestherefrom, said ate being spaced forwardly from said cross race wherebyto provide between the gate and the cross brace a passage by means ofwhich access may be readily gained to the spout when the gate is closedfor removing articles from the spout and for replacing'the articlestherein, and a support carried in the forward end of the "i5 bodyportion beneath the open end of the spout for maintaining a container inproper position for receiving the bulk of material h n the gate isvOIpBR I-U T PHILIPPS

